Victory Through Air Power By Major Alexander P. De Seversky, Signed and Inscribed, in Original Dust Jacket, 1942

Seversky, Alexander. Victory Through Air Power. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1942. First Edition. Signed and inscribed. In the publisher’s original unclipped dust jacket and boards. Presented in a new, archival slipcase. 

This first edition of Victory Through Air Power is signed and inscribed by Major Alexander de Seversky. Pasted on the first free endpaper is a cream card, signed and inscribed, “With best wishes, Alexander de Seversky.” Victory Through Air Power was published in New York by Simon and Schuster in 1942. This book retains the original publisher’s blue and gray dust jacket and blue hardcover boards. It is presented in a new, archival cloth slipcase. 

Major de Seversky was a pilot during WWI, who also designed fighter planes as well as bombsights. He quickly became convinced that air power is one of the strongest forces in modern warfare. While WWII was underway, he used this book to urge the U.S. to take the offensive against the Axis Powers through the use of planes. He believed that the United States was fully equipped to win the war if only it would put into action the strategies he outlined in his book. To further his point, de Seversky detailed all of the major battles in the conflict so far that had been decided through air power. 

This book had such an impact on some of those who read it, that the financially struggling Walt Disney set out to make Victory Through Air Power into a film, one that would hopefully get the attention of the U.S. military. Unfortunately for Disney and de Seversky, the military put MacArthur’s island-hopping technique into effect rather than the suggested full use of airplanes. Eventually, de Seversky’s urges to create an Air Force separate from the Navy and Army did come to fruition. 

CONDITION:

Overall good condition. Original blue and gray illustrated dust jacket, unclipped. With wear and creases on front and back, chipping and loss to top and bottom, and stains on back panel. New restoration work to the dust jacket, including matching fill to the top and bottom, most notable on the spine. Original blue hardcover boards with embossed titles to the front and spine. Signed on a cream card, that is pasted to the first free endpaper. Inscription and signature in black ink, “With best wishes, Alexander de Seversky.” Also inscribed at top with past owner and date “Major C. W. Bud 11/10/57” in blue ink. Interior pages are mostly healthy, with scattered toning.  The book has 354 deckle-edged pages and 48 glossy black and white photos throughout the work. Presented in a new, archival cloth slipcase with inlay to the front. 

Book Dimensions: 8 1/2"H x 6"W x 1 1/2"D.

Slipcase Dimensions: 8 7/16"H x 6 1/8"W x 2"D

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.